Bumping post



M y 1952 s. w. HAYES 2,596,240

BUMPING POST Filed March 18, 1947 5 Sheeis-Sheet 1 Imam/gr;

y 1952 s. w. HAYES 2,596,240

BUMPING POST,

Filed March 18, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 13, 1952 s. w. HAYES 2,596,240

BUMPING POST Filed March 18, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I 3 M, 244 6), m I M (Him/11 5.

y 3, 1952 s. w. HAYES 2,596,240

BUMPING POST Filed March 18, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 mum/11111111471 S. W. HAYES BUMPING POST May 13, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 18, 1947 I alim Patented May 13, 1952 BUMPING POST Stanley W. Hayes, Richmond, Ind., assigncr to Hayes Track Appliance Company, Richmond, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application March 18, 1947, Serial No. 735,402

16 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to improvements in bumping posts of the type in which a bumper head, located between the rails, is supported upon the road bed by tension and compression means.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved bumping post providing a maximum of strength with a minimum of metal and wherein the tension is transmitted directly, rather than through bolts in joints, to the rail bases.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved bumping post of the type comprising separable unitary tension and compression units.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved bumping post comprising separable unitary tension and compression units wherein the bumper head is attached to the compression unit and the tension unit encircles the compression unit in the upper region thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved bumper head and, more particularly, a construction wherein the bumper head is made an integral part of the compression unit in a novel manner to provide a simple yet strong and durable construction.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved bumping post including a tension cross member received between and abutting against tension members, and also centrally located relative to the tension members so as to provide a nontwisting structure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved bumping post tension unit having novel means for attaching the lower ends of a tension bar to a cross member extending below the rails and characterized particularly in that the cross member is a three part structure which is cut to conform to the angle of divergence of the tension bar and then secured to the bar.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a bumping post tension unit having new and improved means for attaching it to the rail webs.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a ,new and improved compression unit having joint structure connecting it to the rails, characterized particularly in a construction giving greater bearing of attaching bolts in the joint and diminishing the tendency to twist under impact; and furthermore, providing a firmer footing for the compression elements.

' Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description, in the course of which reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the bumping post of the present invention, showing it installed on track rails in conjunction with middle rails which are provided to make the track of a strength comparable to that inherent in the post;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the bumping post illustrated in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are side, front, and rear elevational views thereof;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the tension unit, showing the unit attached to the rails;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the tension unit shown in Fig. 6, the view being one along the line 1-4 of Fig. 6 and partly broken away;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view taken generally along the line 8-8 of Fig. 6 and partly broken away;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the compression unit showing it installed on the track but not including all the bumper head structure Fig. 10 is a fragmentary and partly broken away side elevational view of'the compression joint, the view being one looking generally along the line l0-l0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary and partly broken away horizontal cross sectional View taken along the line Hll of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the compression joints;

Fig. ,13 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional View taken along the line I3I3 of Fig. 4 and illustrating particularly the manner in which the upper ends of the compression and tension units are joined;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary top plan view of the compression unit illustrating the mode of attachment'of the compression members to a middle plate and prior tothe attachment of the bumper head thereto;

Fig. 15 is a top plan view illustrating the construction of the bumper head and its attachment to the middle plate;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating the upper end of the compression unit with the bumper head secured thereto:

Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 15 of a modification wherein the bumper head is provided with sion unit having a bumper head with the curved striking plate.

Referring now to the drawings and first particularly to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, it may be seen that the bumping post, which is indicated as a whole generally by the reference character In, comprises a bumper head 12 supported slightly off center with respect to a pair of rails I4 by a pair of compression members I 6 diverging outwardly, downwardly and rearwardly from the bumper head and which are secured to the latter and form part of an integral compression unit indicated as a whole by reference character. It, and a tension unit indicated as a whole by reference character 20 comprising a one-piece tension bar 22, the downwardly extending portions of which diverge downwardly, outwardly, and forwardly and the upper end of which encircles the upper portion of the compression unit.

In accordance with one of the features of the present invention, the bumper head is formed as an integral part of the compression unit and it is so constructed and arranged relative to the compression unit that the tension bar 22 is adapted to encircle the upper end thereof, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, thereby to facilitate assembly as well as to provide a rigid and eflicient construction. Other features of novelty are present in the structures of both the compression and tension units, which features contribute to the ease of manufacture, assembly 'and installation, as well as to the durability and satisfactory operation of the bumping post under both usual and unusual conditions.

The tension unit will now be described with particular reference to Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, and

more particularly with reference to Figs. 6, '7

and 8.

as .a whole by reference character 24, the outer ends of which underlie the rail bases, and to which the lower ends of the tension bar 22 are secured. The location of the ends of the tension bar below the rail bases insures that the tension forces transmitted through the bar'are transmitted to the rails. The rails are attached to the tension bar and the latter is so secured to the cross member that the rails are prevented from moving toward each other under impact.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 6,7

and 8, it will be noted that the cross member 24 is a three part structure of angle section. It

is cut at two places parallel to the sides. of the tension member and the resulting end sections 26 and the center section 28 are secured, as by welding, to the sides of the tension member. The

described construction facilitates fabricationof the tension unit and provides a rigid construction whereby the tension stresses are transmitted directly to the cross bar and rail bases and wherein the rails, which are secured to the tension unit in a manner to be described shortly, are prevented from moving together by the center section 28 of the cross member. Also, there'is no tendency of the cross member 24 to rotate when the bumping post is struck because the tension member is secured substantially centrally relative to the cross member.

. ency of the j oint to twist under impact.

Additional strength and rigidity are imparted to the tension unit by the utilization of reinforcing plates. A pair of inclined plates 39 are secured to the lower ends of the tension bar and to the center section 28 of the cross member and another pair of plates 32 are secured to the opposite sides of the tension bar and to the end pieces 26; The latter reinforce the connections of the tension bar to the end sections 26 of the cross member and also strengthen the cross member under the track rails.

The usual track is not strong enough to pre vent pulling up of the track rails at the front of plate 38 having a vertical portion 38A adapted to abut against the rail web and a downwardly inclined portion 383 overlying the rail base and cutto fit around the front, outside and a portion of the rear side of the tension bar, asbest illustrated in Fig. 8. The joint is strengthened by a vertical brace 45] secured to both the vertical and inclined. portions of the plate 38 and also to the outer side of the tension bar.

The tension unit is secured to the track in such manner that it will not move backward therealong. It is preferably thus secured by two pairs of bolts 42 passing through suitable holes in the vertical portions 38A of the plates 38 and openings drilled through the rail web. Rail anchors (not shown) may be secured to the rails by the bolts 42 and if rail anchors are not used, filler bars 44 may be placed at the outer sides of the rail webs to reinforce the latter at the joints.

The upper end of the tension bar, as already indicated, is adapted to encircle the upper end of the compression unit andis secured to the compression unit by a bolt 46, as best illustrated in Fig. 13, the bolt passing through a hole 48 at the top of the tension bar. In accordance with another feature of the invention, the tension bar of reinforcing plates .50 (see .Fig. 6) disposed at opposite sides of the hole and which also serve to locate the tension unit relative to the compression unit.

The compression unit 13 also includes novel features. One of theseis, as already indicated, the construction of it as a unit with the bumper head l2. Another is the improved construction of the compression unit joints whereby the lower ends of the unit are secured to the rails'and to a compression cross member; more specifically, this construction comprises a base plate abutting against the end of thecompression member and compression joint braces giving firmer footing for the compression members. Another feature is to provide an improved bearing between the compression joint and rail web to diminish tend Referring now-more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 and 9 to 13, it will be noted that the compression members [6 are made of heavy H beams. The upper ends of the beams are secured to the bumper. head i2 in a novel manner to be debeams are secured to a compression cross member 54 and to the track rails 14.

The compression cross member 54 is of angle section and is of a length such that it lies be tween the rails, as best illustrated in Fig. 9. It is also secured to the middle rails so that the latter prevent the rear end of the bumping post from being depressed under car wheel impact by socket defining rail clips 58, which are welded to the downwardly extending flange of the cross piece 54 and which, together with the cross piece, constitute structure partially encircling the bases of the middle rails 34.

The compression joints 52 each includes a base plate 58 which is secured to the lower end of an H beam and a. compression joint flange plate fill to which the H beam with its base plate is suitably secured as by welding. Each of the flange plates includes a horizontal portion 69A welded to the top of the cross member 54, an inclined portion 503, and a vertical portion 6M3. The vertical portion is made of a relatively thick bar to give greater bearing of the securing bolts in the joint and to diminish the tendency to twist under impact. The portion 69C may be secured as by welding to the inclined portion 6913.

The compression joint includes also structure giving a firmer footing for the compression H beams, which structure includes a generally vertical brace 62 of triangular configuration and secured to and between the base plate 58 and horizontal portion 60A of the flange plate, and a second brace 64 also of triangular configuration secured between and to the base plate 58 and the top of the bar portions 69C of the flange plate.

The compression joint is secured to the track rails M by bolts 65 passing through the portions MIC of the flange plates, holes drilled through the rail webs, and through the filler bars 68.

The bumper head is also constructed and secured to the compression members in a novel manner, as will now be brought out with reference to Figs. 9 and 13 to 16, inclusive. The bumper head construction is such that the force of impact against the bumper head striking plate H3 is transmitted substantially horizontally through substantially vertical braces to a middle plate i2 secured to the upper ends of the com pressicn H beams l6 perpendicular to the length of the beams. In construction of the compression unit the middle plate 12 is first secured to the upper ends of the cross beams, which are also welded together, after which the remainder of the bumper head structure is secured thereto.

The striking plate is secured at an angle relative to the middle plate so as to be substantially vertical when the bumping post is installed on the track rails. It is so secured to the middle plate ii. by a plurality of vertical spaced apart braces welded to the back side of the striking plate i9 and front side of the middle plate 12. There are four of these vertical braces, of which the two main vertical braces are indicated by the reference character 14 and the two outside ones are indicated by the reference character 16. The vertical braces are of somewhat the same size except that the side braces 76 are cut away somewhat as indicated by the reference character 15 to provide space for tension bar seat plates 8i) which have curved upper surfaces to provide a good seat for the curved upper end of the tension bar. The seat plates 80 are located in spaced relation between each of the main vertical plates M and one of the side vertical plates 7-6. The rear plates as are also secured to the middle plate 12.

The bumper head is also provided with a bolt retainer 82 having a hole adapted to line up with the hole 48 in the tension bar when the compression and tension units are properly assembled. When thus assembled, it is a simple matter to pass the bolt 46 through the bolt retainer 82 and the tension bar, thereby securely to hold the bumping post in assembled relation. A pair of bolt head retainer bars 84 are secured to the underside of the retainer 82 to prevent the bolt from undesired turning. The top of the bumper head is closed by a top plate 88 extending rearwardly from the striking plate and to the region of the seats to provide an additional guide for the tension bar.

If desired, the bumper head [2 may be constructed with a curved striking plate 90, as illustrated in Figs. 17 and 18. This requires some change in the relative dimensions oi the vertical brace plates M and i6 and it is preferred to employ horizontal side brace plates 92, 94 and 96 to provide support for the outer ends of the striking plate.

From the foregoing detailed description of the present invention it may be noted that the bumping post can be fabricated simply to provide a substantial and rigid structure well able to with stand the heaviest impacts to which it may be subjected in use. The tension and compression units can be fabricated independently and then secured in assembled relation upon the track rails in simple manner. The construction of the bumper head as a unit with the compression unit at the level of the upper end of the compression members insures that the heavy rearward forces are transmitted directly to the heavy H beams of the compression unit and through the novel compression joints to the cross member and rails. The utilization of a base plate 58 with the braces 62 and 64 provides a structure capable of withstanding easily the vertical forces and the use of the bar 60C in the construction of the compression flange plates insures that neither the track nor the joint will be twisted to any objectionable degree.

The tension unit can also be constructed readily as described above and in such manner that the tension forces are transmitted directly to the rails without any twisting of the joint or of the cross member through which the forces are transmitted to the undersides of the rails. The center section of the cross member also prevents the rails from moving toward each other.

The assembly is further facilitated by the construction of the compression unit with a curved seat for the upper end of the tension bar. The depression of the bolt retainer 82 to receive the reinforcing plates 58 secured to the underside of the tension bar also enables the tension bar readily to be located relative to the compression unit so that the two can be secured together by the bolt 55 or other securing means.

While but two embodiments of the present in vention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the details thereof are not intended to be limitative of the invention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A bumping post including two unitary but separate sections each having means for connection to opposite points in track rails, one of said sections including a. pair of downwardly and rearwardly diverging members and a rigid bumper head secured to and carried by the members at their upper ends and serving as a compression unit and the other as a tension unit, said bumper head extending substantially forwardly of the downwardly and rearwardly diverging members and having a recessed seat formed across the top thereof adjacent the place of securement to said members and said tension unit encircling only the bumper head structure in said recessed seat, and means removably securing the two sections together in interlocking relationship.

2. A bumping post as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tension unit includes a substantially V-shaped and inverted bar and the means for removably securing the sections together includes securing means passing through aligned holes substantially at the apex of said tension bar and in the said bumper head.

3. A bumping post including two separable sections each having means for connection to opposite points in track rails, one of said sections serving as a compression unit and having a bumper head and the other of said sections serving as a tension unit, said bumper head structure including a recessed curved seat extending over its top and said tension unit including a curved portion fitting into said recessed seat, and means for removably securing said two sections together.

i. A bumping post as claimed in claim 3 wherein said recessed seat includes a central apertured depressed portion and said tension unit includes structure extending into said depressed portion and is apertured in alignment with the aperture in said seat. v

5. A bumping post tension unit including a pair of downwardly, forwardly and outwardly diverging tension members and a cross member comprising a structural element cut into three parts at the angle of inclination of said tension members and fixedly secured to the latter in such manner that the central one of said parts is located and extends between the tension members and the two others extend outwardly from said members.

6. A bumping post as claimed in claim 5 wherein said structural element is of angle section and said tension unit is reinforced by slanting plates secured to the tensionmembers and directly to at least one flange of the central part of said cross member. a 7. A bumping post tension unit as claimed in claim 5 wherein the tension unit is reinforced by generally triangular braces located at each side of the tension members and secured to the tension members and the central and outer parts of the cross member.

8. A bumping post tension unit including downwardly extending tension members and a tension cross member including a center portion located directly between and having its ends abutting against said members and secured thereto and including outer portions fixedly secured to said tension members and which are.

adapted to underlie the rail bases, the centers of the momentsof inertia of said cross member portions cutting through 'said downwardly extending tension members at approximately the longitudinal centers thereof.

9. A bumping post compression unit including apair of downwardly, outwardly and rearwardly extending compression members, a rigid bumper head fixedly secured to said members and in- V eluding a striking plate, and intermediate means securing said s triking plate to the upper ends 8 of said members to project forwardly of and at the upper level of said members.

10. A bumping post compression unit including a pair of downwardly, rearwardly and out wardly diverging compression members, a middle plate secured to the upper ends of said members, a striking plate, and means including vertical braces fixed to and extending from the rear of said striking plate to the front of and fixed to said middle plate for fixedly securing the striking plate to the compression unit.

11. A compression unit as claimed in claim 10 wherein said vertical braces are configured to provide an arcuate periphery across the top thereof and arcuate seat defining elements are secured between said braces to form a recess to receive the upper curved end of a tension unit.

12. A compression unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein said peripheral structure includes a depressed bolt retainer.

13. A bumping post compression unit including a pair of downwardly, outwardly and rearwardly diverging compression members, the up- ,per ends of which are cut generally perpendicular to the lengths of the members, a middle plate secured to the upper ends of said members so that it too is perpendicular to thelengths thereof, a plurality of spaced apart generally parallel and forwardly extending brace plates fixedly secured to the front side of said middle plate, the forward ends of said plates being cut so as to be vertical when the compression unit is installed, and a striking plate secured to the front ends of said brace plates, and the upper edges of said brace plates being shaped adjacent said middle plate to provide a recessed seat for the upper end of a tension unit.

14. A bumping post compression unit including downwardly, rearwardly and outwardly diverging compression members, and means for attaching said members to adjacent track rails, said attaching means including joint structures comprising heavy section longitudinally extending bars adapted to be located in abutting relation and secured to the rail webs, each of said bars having a flat side to abut against the rail Web, and plate means bridging between the lower ends of said members and the upper edges of said bars above and adjacent the places of securement to the rails;

15. A bumping post compression unit including a pair of downwardly, outwardly and rear- Wardly diverging compression members, the upper ends of which are cut generally perpendicular to the length of the members, a middle plate fixedly secured to the upper ends of said members so that it too is perpendicular to the lengths thereof, four spaced apart generally vertical and forwardly extending braces fixedly secured to the front side of said middle plate, the forward ends of said plates being cut so as to be vertical when the compression unit is installed, a bump-' er head striking plate secured to the front ends of said members, the two outer braces having upper ends adjacent the middle plate which are cutaway a short distance, curved tension bar seat plates secured between each of the center braces and the outer brace next to it and in spaced relation and coacting with the center braces to define a tension bar seat extending around the outside of the bumper head structure adjacent said middle plate, and a bolt retainer secured between and below the top sides of the two center braces.

16 A bumping post compression unit including downwardly, rearwardly and outwardly diverging compression members, and joint structures for securing the compression members to the rail webs, said joint structures comprising generally rectangular base plates secured to the lower ends of each of said members, heavy sec tion longitudinally extending bars adapted to be located and secured in abutting relation to the rail webs, flange plate structures extending downwardly and inwardly from said bars, vertical bracing structures interposed between each 01' said base plates and the inwardly extending portions of said flange plates, and other bracing structure interposed between said base plates and the upper portions of said bars.

STANLEY W. HAYES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are or record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,705,479 Hayes Mar. 19, 1929 1,747,006 Hayes Feb. 11, 1930 1,815,917 Keebler July 28, 1931 1,827,288 Hayes Oct. 13, 1931 1,910,990 Hayes May 23, 1933 2,022,767 Hayes Dec. 31, 1935 2,053,556 Hayes Sept. 8, 1936 2,073,694 Hayes Mar. 16, 1937 2,256,828 Hayes Sept. 23, 1941 2,308,877 Hayes Jan. 19, 1943 

